The opening day of Corona Rally Mexico has provided dramatic action, but BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team driver Jari-Matti Latvala has escaped problems and taken the overnight lead. Sébastien Loeb (Citroën Total) is 9.6 seconds adrift in second with Chris Atkinson putting in a good performance to hold third for Subaru.
The third round of the FIA World Rally Championship is the first event of the season to be staged on gravel and runs in the mountains around Leon. High altitudes sap engine power and searing temperatures add to the challenge of the only round of the series to be held in North America.
Today’s route took in six mountainous stages before returning to Leon for two runs around the super special stage; in total, the day covered 135.74 competitive kilometres. Latvala won only three of the stages, but the Finn - who claimed his maiden WRC victory in Sweden earlier this month - stayed out of trouble and takes what he says to be an unexpected overnight lead.
Loeb has however been on his heels, despite concerns about the balance and suspension set-up this afternoon. He won three stages, but conceded he simply could not match Latvala’s times. Atkinson lacked traction this morning and then lost use of the intercom in SS5. Despite also escaping the potential consequences of hitting a big rock this afternoon, the Australian has set top times to hold third. Team-mate Petter Solberg is fourth, although further adrift of the leaders after suffering brake problems this morning and going off the road this afternoon.
Championship leader Mikko Hirvonen slipped behind Solberg this afternoon after suffering a slow puncture, but the Finn’s unenviable first position meant he was sweeping loose gravel off the road. He did well to lose only 18 seconds this morning, but this afternoon’s puncture cost him 30 seconds and dropped him to fifth. Henning Solberg (Munchi’s Ford) bent the suspension after hitting a rock and holds sixth overnight, with Britain’s Matthew Wilson (Stobart Ford) and Federico Villagra (Munchi’s Ford) rounding off the top eight respectively.
Dani Sordo was forced into retirement in the first stage with damaged suspension, and Gigi Galli also stopped with the same problem this afternoon. Suzuki drivers Toni Gardemeister and Per-Gunnar Andersson were both forced out with engine related problems.
Corona Rally Mexico - Results after Day 1
| 1. Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila | Ford Focus RS WRC | 1 hr 23 min 38.6sec |
| 2. Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena | Citroën C4 WRC | 1 hr 23 min 48.2sec |
| 3. Chris Atkinson/Stéphane Prévot | Subaru Impreza WRC | 1 hr 24 min 01.0sec |
| 4. Petter Solberg/Phil Mills | Subaru Impreza WRC | 1 hr 24 min 40.5sec |
| 5. Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen | Ford Focus RS WRC | 1 hr 24 min 49.2sec |
| 6. Henning Solberg/Cato Menkerud | Ford Focus RS WRC | 1 hr 26 min 22.2sec |
| 7. Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin | Ford Focus RS WRC | 1 hr 26 min 31.5sec |
| 8. Federico Villagra/Jorge Companc | Ford Focus RS WRC | 1 hr 29 min 08.6sec |
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